When most people think of the holidays, they think of gifts. People love to buy and receive gifts during the holidays, but it’s good to know that there are also ways to give back without spending any money. I personally find it very rewarding to give to others, so I’m always looking for ways to bless without breaking the bank.
10 Ways to Give Back During the Holidays Without Spending Money
1. Go Christmas Caroling – Grab the children and head to a local nursing home, children’s hospital, rehab facility, or through the neighborhood and bring cheer through Christmas songs.
2. Ring the bell for the Salvation Army – Many local businesses have the Red Kettle Christmas Campaign located just outside their front door. Bell ringers are those volunteers that literally ring a bell to alert people to the kettle for monetary donations.
The campaign enables the Salvation Army to provide food, toys, and clothing to over 6 million people during the holiday season and helps more than 34 million Americans recovering from all kinds of personal disasters nationwide.
3. Volunteer at a local food shelter or food bank – During the holidays and cold winter months, food shelters are especially busy. There is always the need for more hands! Contact a local shelter to see how your family can take part.
4. Donate unwanted household items and clothing – Organizations like the Salvation Army, Goodwill, Purple Heart and others will gladly take your families unwanted items.
5. Donate children’s books to a doctor or dentist office – Your unwanted books will help to entertain a child who is waiting to see the doctor or dentist. Call or stop by an office near you to see if they’d like some gently used books.
6. Contact someone you love – Send an email, make a phone call, or send an E-Card to someone you love.
7. Leave a kind note on someone’s car – Make someone’s day by having your child color a picture or write a note, then leave it on the windshield of a car (or few) while out shopping or at a restaurant.
8. Visit someone in a nursing home or rehab facility – Visitors can be very important to those who are residing in a nursing home, assisted living, or rehab facility. The elderly love to see little faces! Take the kids and go cheer up those who need it.
9. Help someone wrap gifts or volunteer to help with a local “giving tree”– Volunteer to help wrap gifts for a neighbor, relative, friend, or elderly person or find a church or organization in your area that offers gifts to those in need. There are many ways to help before, during, and after events such as these.
10. Help prepare the holiday dinner – Have your children help with the holiday dinner, even if it’s setting the table. There are so many ways to involve children in prepping and preparing the food.
Author: Amber Louchart
Amber is the proud mother to four beautiful children, Damian (27), Rosaleigh (14), Carlyn (11), and Naomi (8). Her family also includes four cats. She loves being a stay-at-home mom and feels blessed to be able to care for her children full-time and provide them with so many opportunities through Metro Detroit Mommy. In addition to Metro Detroit Mommy, Amber has a passion for hosting karaoke with Malibu Entertainment. She enjoys the metro Detroit nightlife especially, singing, dancing and meeting new people.
Amber is the proud mother to four beautiful children, Damian (27), Rosaleigh (14), Carlyn (11), and Naomi (8). Her family also includes four cats.
She loves being a stay-at-home mom and feels blessed to be able to care for her children full-time and provide them with so many opportunities through Metro Detroit Mommy. In addition to Metro Detroit Mommy, Amber has a passion for hosting karaoke with Malibu Entertainment. She enjoys the metro Detroit nightlife especially, singing, dancing and meeting new people.
